Building Unit for Modular Rack

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a building unit for a modular rack. The building unit includes a shelf, a frame for supporting the shelf and posts for supporting the frame. The frame includes beams, sleeves provided between the beams and connecting elements each securely disposed in a related one of the sleeves and formed with at least one screw hole. Each of the screws includes a lower section and an upper section driven through the screw hole of a related one of the connecting elements. Each of the posts includes upper and lower discs formed therein. The upper disc includes a screw hole for receiving the lower section of a related one of the screws. The lower disc includes a screw hole for receiving the upper section of a screw of another building unit.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a rack and, more particularly, to a building units for a modular rack.

2. Related Prior Art

Racks are often used for storing and/or displaying staff. There have been modular racks each including similar units. Different numbers of identical units can be put together in different manners to form different modular racks. Tools such as screwdrivers and wrenches are often required to assemble the modular racks, and this is inconvenient.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a building unit for a modular rack.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the building unit includes a shelf, a frame for supporting the shelf and posts for supporting the frame. The frame includes beams, sleeves provided between the beams and connecting elements each securely disposed in a related one of the sleeves and formed with at least one screw hole. Each of the screws includes a lower section and an upper section driven through the screw hole of a related one of the connecting elements. Each of the posts includes upper and lower discs formed therein. The upper disc includes a screw hole for receiving the lower section of a related one of the screws. The lower disc includes a screw hole for receiving the upper section of a screw of another building unit.

Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description referring to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a building unit for making a rack according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the building unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the building unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a rack consisting of building units as the one shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another rack consisting of building units as the one shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a modular rack made of building units 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, description will be given to one of the building units 1. The building units 1 includes a shelf 40, a frame 10 for supporting the shelf 40 and long posts 30 or short posts 30′ for supporting the frame 10. The shelf 40 includes four apertures 41 defined therein.

The frame 10 includes four beams 14, four sleeves 11 provided between the beams 14 and four strips 13 each extended between two adjacent ones of the beams 14. The connection of the beams 14 to the sleeves 11 and the connection of the strips 13 to the beams 14 can be done by welding for example. The strips 13 are used to enhance the frame 10 and support the shelf 40. Each of the strips 13 includes a screw hole 131 defined therein. A connecting element 12 is securely disposed in each of the sleeves 11. Each of the connecting elements 12 includes a screw hole 16 defined therein or, more particularly, two screw holes 16 for being hollow. Each of the connecting elements 12 is preferably a terminal portion of a related one of the beams 14 inserted through an aperture defined in a related one of the sleeves 11.

Each of the long posts 30 is a hollow element, with a lower disc 31 a provided therein and an upper disc 31 b provided therein. The discs 31 a and 31 b are provided in each of the long posts 30 by welding for example. The lower disc 31 a includes a screw hole 32 a defined therein. The upper disc 31 b includes a screw hole 32 b defined therein.

Similarly, the short posts 30′ are identical to the long posts 30 except for extending shorter. Therefore, each of the short posts 30′ includes a lower disc 31 a provided therein and an upper disc 31 b provided therein.

There are provided four screws 20 for connecting the long posts 30 or the short posts 30′ to the frame 10. Each of the screws 20 includes an upper section 20 a, a lower section 20 b and an annular shoulder 21 formed between the sections 20 a and 20 b.

There are provided flexible linings 33 for enhancing the connection of the long posts 30 or the short posts 30′ to the frame 10. Each of the flexible linings 33 includes an aperture 331 defined therein.

In assembly, the flexible linings 33 are disposed in the sleeves 11. The upper section 20 a of each of the screws 20 is inserted through the aperture 331 of a related one of the flexible linings 33 and driven in the screw holes 16 of a related one of the connecting elements 12. The annular shoulder 21 of each of the screws 20 is located against a related one of the connecting elements 12. Thus, screws 20 are firmly attached to the posts 30 or 30′. The annular shoulder 21 of each of the screws 20 is disposed in the aperture 331 of a related one of the flexible linings 33. The lower section 20 b of each of the screws 20 is disposed in a related one of the flexible linings 33. An upper end of each of the posts 30 or 30′ is inserted in a related one of the flexible linings 33. The lower section 20 b of each of the screws 20 is driven in the screw hole 32 b of the upper disc 31 b of a related one of the posts 30 or 30′. The shelf 40 is supported on the strips 13. A screw 50 is driven in the screw hole 131 of each of the strips 13 through a related one of the apertures 41. Thus, the building unit 1 is finished.

If the building unit 1 is used at a bottom of a modular rack, a pad 34 can be attached to each of the posts 30 or 30′. The upper section 20 a of a screw 20 is driven in the screw hole 32 a of the lower disc 31 a of each of the posts 30 or 30′. The annular shoulder 21 of the screw 20 is located against the lower disc 31 a of the post 30 or 30′. The lower section 20 b of the screw 20 is driven in a screw hole defined in a related one of the pads 34.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown another modular rack. This modular rack includes two stacks of building units 1. Some of the building units 1 include four long posts 30 each while the other building units 1 include two long posts 30 and two short posts 30′ each.

The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims. 

1. A building unit comprising: a shelf; a frame for supporting the shelf, the frame comprising: beams; sleeves provided between the beams; connecting elements each securely disposed in a related one of the sleeves and formed with at least one screw hole; screws each comprising a lower section and an upper section driven through the screw hole of a related one of the connecting elements; and posts for supporting the frame, each of the posts comprising: an upper disc formed therein and with a screw hole for receiving the lower section of a related one of the screws; and a lower disc formed therein and with a screw hole for receiving the upper section of a screw of another building unit.
 2. The building unit according to claim 1, wherein the frame comprises strips each provided between two adjacent ones of the beams to enhance the frame and support the shelf.
 3. The building unit according to claim 2, wherein the shelf comprises apertures defined therein, and each of the strips comprises a screw hole for receiving a screw inserted trough a related one of the apertures of the shelf.
 4. The building unit according to claim 1, wherein each of the screws comprises an annular shoulder formed between the upper and lower sections so that the annular shoulder can be abutted against a related one of the connecting elements.
 5. The building unit according to claim 1 comprising a flexible lining provided each of the sleeves and a related one of the posts.
 6. The building unit according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the posts extends longer than the other posts.
 7. The building unit according to claim 1, wherein each of the connecting elements is a terminal portion of a related one of the beams inserted through an aperture defined in a related one of the sleeves. 